Clean Your Microwave Without Scrubbing: Here’s the Secret

Microwave grime is a special kind of nasty: Unless you wipe down your microwave after every time you use it {Um, nope } you bake on all of the tiny spatters and spills when you heat up the next frozen burrito. And if don’t remember the last time you cleaned your microwave, those stains and bits for food are going to be especially stubborn. So here’s how to get rid of them—without breaking a sweat.

Fill a microwave-safe bowl two-thirds full with water, toss in a lemon slice, if you have one handy, and heat the whole thing for two minutes. If your microwave’s not good and steamy after two minutes, run it for another two. The goal is to create lots of moisture, which will loosen the baked-on bits and help break up the stains. Once the bowl has cooled off, pull it out and try wiping down the sides of your microwave. If the gross stuff still won’t budge, try a few more two-minute sessions of microwaving the water—just make sure the bowl never goes dry. If you need even more help, you can spray the stains with a mixture of white vinegar and water; let the spray soak for a couple of hours, then start again microwaving the bowl of water.